ENG-2018 — Page 359

Chapter 19

Travel and Tourism

With the commissioning of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge,

2018 was a fruitful year for Hong Kong's tourism sector, recording solid growth in the number of overnight visitors.

The tourism industry of Hong Kong grew steadily in 2018 under the concerted efforts of the government, the Hong Kong Tourism Board and the travel trade, buoyed by the commissioning of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB). Compared with 2017, the number of overnight visitors rose solidly by 4.9 per cent to 29.26 million. Hong Kong welcomed 51.04 million visitors from the Mainland, representing a 14.8 per cent increase. The overall number of visitors grew 11.4 per cent to 65.15 million.

The government is implementing the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong's Tourism Industry, promulgated in 2017. The blueprint sets forth the government's vision to develop Hong Kong into a world-class premier tourism destination and its mission to ensure the balanced, healthy and sustainable development of the industry, as well as four development strategies supported by short, medium and long-term initiatives.

Major Tourism Developments

The city makes special efforts to promote MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions), cruise tourism, mega events and green tourism, while boosting family and business travel.

MICE

Hong Kong is a premier MICE destination, offering world-class convention and exhibition facilities and a wide range of tourist attractions. It hosts some of the world's largest trade fairs, such as the Hong Kong Electronics Fair, Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem Fair, Hong Kong Gifts and Premium Fair, and Hong Kong Watch and Clock Fair. Meetings and Exhibitions Hong Kong is an office working under the board to promote MICE tourism.

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